Symbolic imageRepublicans split over blame after Democratic midterm sweep
Democrats won the House and Senate in Tuesday's midterms, with some counts still open. Republicans are now arguing over who caused the defeat.
Vice President JD Vance wrote on X after the vote that "the reason we lost is the war" in Iran and demanded an "honest conversation". Trump conceded on Wednesday, 4 November, that this was largely true, Handelsblatt reports, but at his first public appearance he spoke mainly about his Washington building projects. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the result a rejection of the president and Congress, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz called it a "bloodbath". Democrats hold 54 of 100 Senate seats, up seven, and are certain of more than 240 House seats, where 218 are needed.
Exits and a Hegseth fight
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, resigned on Thursday, 5 November, the first senior department official to leave since the vote, the Guardian reports. FAZ's live blog headlines a Republican's call to impeach Hegseth, while Trump says Hegseth "does a very good job".
Rubio denies leaving
The Independent reported that four or five senior officials may quit to prepare 2028 bids, with Rubio expected among them. Rubio told the New York Times that working until the end of Trump's term has "always been my plan".
Alaska and Mississippi still counting
Counts continue in both states, where Democrats could win two more Senate seats, according to Handelsblatt.